Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised a red flag over the state of sport sector, especially football, calling on for remedial measures to address the situation.
The Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, Albert Obama Ntabalila (Manyovu – CCM).
Debating budget estimates for the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports here, the legislators also raised grave concerns over the invasion of sport grounds and other recreational areas.
Presenting his report, the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, Albert Obama Ntabalila (Manyovu – CCM), said they were gravely saddened by the recent performance of the national soccer team, Taifa Stars.
“The committee, therefore, advises the ministry to continue motivating players in order to enable them to fly our national flag higher next time,” he noted.
On his part, Spokesman of the Opposition for the ministry, Joseph Mbilinyi (Mbeya Urban – CHADEMA), noted that Tanzania was currently performing poorly in all games and that the situation is worse in soccer.
He said it was high time the government used local coaches to restore the lost glory in soccer, citing examples of Joel Bendera and the late Kinanda Zakaria who enabled Taifa Stars to sparkle in world soccer map.
“Today we’re beaten even by Lesotho under foreign coach who is being paid handsomely using taxpayer money,” lamented Mbilinyi, adding that TFF President Jamal Malinzi has failed to wear his predecessor Leodegar Tenga’s shoes.
The legislators also said most of playgrounds and areas earmarked for physical exercises had been invaded and changed to other uses. “This invasion denies Tanzanians, especially children and youth, an opportunity to play.
This situation disables people to make physical exercise for health, kills talents and the nation lacks young players,” explained Ntabalila. The committee advised the government to repossess all invaded grounds so that they can serve the original purposes.
Presenting her ministry’s budget, the Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sport, Fenella Mukangara, stated that during 2015/16 the government would continue to develop sport infrastructure including Uhuru Stadium.
She also stated that her ministry would coordinate participation of national teams in the All-Africa Games to be held in Brazzaville, Congo in September, this year.
Mukangara said the National Sports Council (NSC) would in 2015/16 coordinate and oversee elections of six sports associations and will also coordinate general assemblies of all regional sport committees.
The minister also mentioned various measures taken by her ministry to develop Mallya Sports College, including rehabilitation of tutors’ houses.
By LEONARD MWAKALEBELA, Tanzania Daily News